Camping in Yosemite National Park: Best Campgrounds, Hiking and Rock Climbing

CAMPING IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

With beautiful lush green valleys, wild rivers, and towering granite peaks, camping in Yosemite National Park offers so many places to explore!  If you’re wondering what the current rules are for visiting the park, if you need a day pass, and how to find a campsite, we’ve got you covered!

highlights of one of America’s oldest national parks

When you stay at a campground, hotel, or lodge in Yosemite, you’ll get the opportunity to see the park during quieter hours.  This means more trails, wildlife, waterfalls, and spectacular views all to yourself!

In addition, Yosemite is the premier destination for rock climbers.  So if you want early access to climbs on El Capitan, the Sentinel, or Half Dome, or just want to sit back and watch the magic happen, staying in Yosemite is the way to go.

But in addition to rock climbing and camping in Yosemite National Park, there are so many other activities to enjoy:

• Fishing in the Tuolumne or Merced Rivers
• Hiking to waterfalls
• Wildlife viewing in the meadows
• Skiing and snowboarding (yes, there’s a ski resort in Yosemite!)
• Swimming, kayaking, and SUPing in Tenaya Lake

We’ll cover the best places to visit in Yosemite, as well as what options you have for camping, hotels, and lodging within the park.  You’ll need a car to get around, but first, if you haven’t packed for a road trip lately,  pull up our road trip checklist to make sure you’ve got everything!

ROAD TRIP CHECKLIST

There are 12 campgrounds located throughout the park, with several in Yosemite Valley. However, some campgrounds, especially those located off Tioga Road, are seasonal and only open from May to October.  And sometimes even later depending on the snow!

Getting to Yosemite National Park

Yosemite via the eastern Sierras, Route 395, and Tioga Pass

To reach Yosemite National Park from the Eastern Sierras, head north on 395 from June Lake, Mammoth, or Bishop.  Or head south on 395 from Reno or Lake Tahoe.  If you haven’t read our Eastern Sierras Road Trip blog, take a peek at that first!

You’ll summit Tioga Pass, at almost 10,000ft, and enter the park through the Tioga Entrance.  Keep in mind, Tioga Pass and Tioga Road both close by late October and do not open up until June or later when the snow has been cleared. 

In addition, both the Tioga Entrance and Tioga Road, in general, are much quieter compared to Yosemite Valley, and you can easily reach the following spots:

• Tuolumne Meadows
• Tenaya Lake
• Olmsted Point
• Clouds Rest

Yosemite via the south entrance, Big Oak Flat, or Arch Rock entrances

Planning to visit Yosemite Valley where you’ll find Half Dome and El Capitan?  Well, then your best bet is to enter at the South Entrance or on the west side of the park at either Big Oak Flat or Arch Rock entrances.

The west side of Yosemite and its entrances are open year-round, with road closures only when there’s snow.  On this side of the park, you’ll enjoy El Capitan and Half Dome, plus:

• Yosemite Falls
• Glacier Point
• Tunnel View
• Bridalveil Falls
• Vernal and Nevada Falls
• Ahwahnee Lodge
• Horsetail Fall or the Firefall
• Mariposa Grove- home to Giant Sequoias!

When you enter Yosemite National Park from the west, you’ll often come in through Tunnel View, and are rewarded with this epic view!

Yosemite National Park reservations and day passes

To visit Yosemite National Park, reservations are still needed during the summer, busy holiday weeks, and weekends between May through October.  Do keep in mind that there are often long waits to drive in.  It’s best to check the Yosemite National Park main website a few weeks before your plan to arrive to see if you need to make a reservation or apply for a day pass.

where to stay in Yosemite National park

There are 12 campgrounds in Yosemite National Park, and all can be booked through Recreation.gov.  The most popular ones are located in Yosemite Valley, including the infamous Camp 4.

Keep in mind, it is illegal to camp overnight in a pullout or day-use area within Yosemite National Park. Therefore if you don’t find a campsite, we’ve also included a few Yosemite lodging options below.  In addition, there are also towns nearby including El Portal, Fish Camp, Bass Lake, and Oakhurst, the latter being the largest, with plenty of hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Camping in Yosemite National Park

• Wawona Campground– close to Yosemite’s South Entrance, 1 hour from Yosemite Valley
• Bridalveil Creek Campground– near Glacier Point, close to Mariposa Grove, and Badger Pass Ski Area
• Upper & Lower Pines Campgrounds– in Yosemite Valley near lots of services (market, lodges, park shuttle)
• Tamarack Flat, Hodgdon Meadow & Crane Flat Campgrounds– close to Big Oak Flat Entrance, 30mins from Yosemite Valley
• Camp 4– also known as the climber’s camp, it is ‘the’ campground if you want easy access to El Capitan. However, there is a lottery to get a campsite at Camp 4.
• White Wolf Campground– remote, 2 miles off Tioga Road, near White Wolf Lodge and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
• Yosemite Creek Campground– most remote, 5 miles off Tioga Road, 26 miles from Tuolumne Meadows, an hour to Yosemite Valley
• Porcupine Flat Campground– just off Tioga Road, primitive camping, over an hour to Yosemite Valley
• Tuolumne Meadows Campground– best campground off Tioga Road, close to services, and the Tuolumne River

All Yosemite National Park campgrounds can be reserved through Recreation.gov.

Hotels and lodging in Yosemite National Park

If camping in Yosemite National Park is not your thing, no worries, there are more posh accommodations.  And there are even glamping options for those who want the camping experience, but not all the hassle!  Here are a few options we love:

• Ahwahnee Hotel– the crown jewel of National Park lodges. Worth the visit even if you don’t stay, and the Ahwahnee is right in Yosemite Valley!
• Yosemite Valley Lodge 
• Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
• Housekeeping Camp– great location in the Valley
• Curry Village– also in Yosemite Valley
• Wawona Hotel– gorgeous old hotel just inside the south entrance
• White Wolf Lodge– a few miles off Tioga Road. Rustic cabins and glamping options!
• Yosemite West– lots of hotel and lodging options and close to Badger Pass Ski Area

All hotels and lodges can be booked through several travel sites, including TravelYosemite.com 

Rock Climbing in Yosemite National Park

When it comes to rock climbing, Yosemite National Park is the premier climbing destination in the U.S.  And its become increasingly popular thanks to films like Free Solo and the Dawn Wall.  You could spend your whole life climbing here and not discover all that the area has to offer.

We always skip the crowded Yosemite Valley and head for Tuolumne Meadows.  Here you’ll find less crowded climbing on solid alpine granite, and a greater chance of scoring a campsite!

In addition, if you think Yosemite climbing only has Half Dome and El Capitan, think again.  Yosemite has hundreds of both trad and sport routes, and dozens of boulder problems. 

Classics in Tuolumne Meadows include:

• The big triple crown of Tenaya Peak, Matthes Crest and Cathedral Peak
• Fairview & Lembert Dome

Plus you can swim in the Tuolumne River or Tenaya Lake when you finish up!

Nearby Climbing Areas Outside Yosemite National Park

Not ready for trad climbing in Yosemite and seeking more sport routes?  Well with great weather and low humidity, the Bishop area is a climbing mecca year-round. 

Other areas with good climbing and short approaches for beginners and families?  We like Mammoth and June Lake.  Read about all of these places in our Eastern Sierras blog!

Our group on the summit of Daft Dome in Tuolumne Meadows.

Best Time Of Year To Climb or watch rock climbers

For rock climbers, the colder and drier the rock is, the better.  This is because cold, dry weather produces more friction between your skin and the rock.  However, you’ll be able to climb or observe climbers year-round in Yosemite Valley.  And remember, Tuolumne Meadows access will be limited to May through October.

For the chance to catch Alex Honnold or Tommy Caldwell, who are just two of the many pro climbers that have called Yosemite Valley home, head to El Capitan Meadow.  Remember to pack your binoculars or a scope to see climbers from around the world scaling El Capitan’s big walls from morning to night. 

In addition, the views of El Capitan at night are spectacular as the climbers’ headlamps illuminate their path upwards.  Or light up their bivy sacks as they settle in for the evening high up on the wall.

OTHER activities in Yosemite National Park

Not a climber?  Well, there are still plenty of activities to try when you’re camping in Yosemite National Park!

• Hike to the top of Yosemite Falls, a strenuous 7.2-mile round trip hike that starts near Camp 4 on the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
• Stop at Tunnel View for that iconic Instagram-worthy shot of Yosemite Valley
• Take the paved cliffside Mist Trail to view Vernal & Nevada Falls
• Walk to the base of Bridalveil Falls via an easy loop trail
• Go skiing & snowboarding! Right by Yosemite West, Badger Pass Ski Area gives you access to great skiing and snowboarding.  You can also try cross-country skiing and tubing!
• Fish on the Merced River near El Capitan Meadow.  Or right in Tuolumne Meadows on the Tuolumne River.  Make sure you have a California fishing permit!
• Take in the view at Clouds Rest, a strenuous hike from Yosemite Valley, or opt for the easier option off Tioga Road
• Swim, SUP, fish, or kayak on the gorgeous Tenaya Lake
• Apply for a permit and hike Half Dome!  This 14-16 mile round-trip hike gains 4,800 feet, with the steepest section in the last 400 feet where you’ll be assisted by cables.

Backpacking through Yosemite National Park towards Mount Whitney is a popular starting point for those that want to experience the John Muir Trail or the Ansel Adams Wilderness!

Spotting Bears and Other Wildlife in Yosemite National Park

There is an abundance of wildlife in Yosemite National Park.  From marmots to coyotes, big horn sheep to mule deer.  And then of course the 300-500 black bears that call Yosemite home.  The best time to spot wildlife is early mornings or at sunset in the meadows and during the quieter months in the park.

The place you don’t want to encourage wildlife to visit is your campsite.  Therefore all campsites in Yosemite National Park are equipped with food lockers or bear boxes.

Tips on keeping a bear-free campsite and staying bear-aware:

• Use the bear box!  Put all items with a scent in the bear box.  This includes soap, toothpaste, and sunscreen.
• Do not leave cooking utensils, dishes, or stoves on your picnic table at your Yosemite campsite.  It will guarantee unwanted visitors.  And not just a black bear.  Squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and deer will raid your campsite for any items that look and smell like a treat!
• Keep a safe distance from bears if you spot one.  Especially if it’s a mother and her cubs.  300ft. is what’s recommended.  Resist the urge to approach for a better photo.

Traveling to Yosemite: final thoughts

If you’ve never been camping in Yosemite National Park, add it to your adventure list!  Want more adventure tips and travel destinations?  Check out some of our other travel blogs here:

• Traveling to Cuba
• Backpacking in the Wind River Range, Wyoming
• Grand Teton National Park
• San Diego: America’s Finest City
• Camping in Sequoia National Park & Kings Canyon

To learn more about what we do on the regular, follow Top Rope Media’s adventures on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Until next time, happy camping!

– Meredith McConvill